Appeals court upholds South Jersey man's murder and rape convictions

EVESHAM — A New Jersey appeals court has upheld the conviction of a man serving a life sentence for raping and murdering a young mother in Burlington County eight years ago.

Christopher Kornberger had appealed his conviction for the murder and rape of Krista DeFrancesco as she returned to her Evesham townhouse from a night out with friends. Kornberger was convicted and sentenced in 2008 to life in prison plus 51 years.

The state appellate court ruling published today rejected Kornberger's argument that his confession to police was involuntary and that he should have been allowed to withdraw it.

The court also upheld Kornberger's convictions and guilty pleas in several other attempted sexual assaults on women in Camden and Burlington counties.